Chapter 33: Blood of the Moon
Liana looked at the bloody piece of Jace's ear, her stomach twisting into knots. Kael paced the war room like a caged animal while Rowan stood frozen, his eyes distant as he searched their broken bond for any sign of their brother. "I'm going after him," Liana stated, breaking the heavy silence. Kael spun around. "Absolutely not. That's exactly what Celeste wants." "I don't care what she wants!" Liana slammed her hand on the table. "Every minute we waste, Jace loses another piece of himself!"
Through their bond, Liana felt Kael's fear—raw and burning. Not fear for himself, but for her. For Jace. For everything they stood to lose. "We can still feel him," Rowan whispered suddenly. "It's faint, but he's alive." Liana closed her eyes, reaching for that thin thread of link. Pain slammed into her—sharp, electric pain that made her gasp. Jace's pain. They were torturing him. "There's something else," she said, trying to stay connected. "Water... underground... stone walls." "The old mining tunnels," Elder Patricia realized. "Near the western ridge." Kael's eyes flashed with dangerous purpose. "Then that's where we're going." "I'm coming with you," Liana declared. "Too dangerous—" "I can track him better than anyone," she cut him off. "And my power might be our only chance against Celeste's shadow magic." The golden light flickered beneath her skin as if to prove her point. Inside her thoughts, the shadow creature hissed with displeasure. Kael and Rowan exchanged looks.
Through their bond, an unspoken exchange passed between them. "Fine," Kael finally agreed. "But you stay behind us. If things go wrong, you run. That's non-negotiable." Thirty minutes later, they crouched at the edge of Shadowfang land. Only their most trusted warriors had been chosen for the mission—ten wolves who would die before betraying their Alpha. Too many others had shown signs of wavering commitment. "Remember," Kael directed, "we get in, find Jace, and get out. No heroics." The border crossing felt like moving into another world. Where Shadowfang lands thrived with healthy forest, Moonless territory looked sick—trees twisted strangely, streams running black, the very air tasting of decay. "She's poisoning the land," Rowan muttered. "Shadow magic corrupts everything it touches." They moved quietly through the twisted landscape. Twice they froze as Moonless patrols passed—not random groups but organized units, wearing similar black armbands with silver moons. "They've built an army," Kael whispered, eyes narrowing. "Not just rogues anymore." "Look," Liana pointed ahead where the trees thinned. "That wasn't there before."
A settlement spread across the valley—hundreds of buildings, some permanent, others makeshift. Wolves moved with purpose between houses. Training grounds. Supply bases. It wasn't just a rebel camp; it was a city. "How many?" Rowan asked, stunned. "Thousands," Kael growled. "They've been planning this for years." Liana's link to Jace pulled her attention westward. "The mines are that way." They skirted the town, using the growing darkness as cover. The pain in their bond increased with each step closer. Through Jace's eyes, Liana caught flashes—a stone ceiling, shadows dancing on walls, Celeste's cruel smile. The mine entrance was guarded by four fighters with shadow-touched weapons. Kael signaled his plan quietly. Three warriors would make a distraction while the rest slipped inside.
The moment the howls sounded from the east, the guards tensed. Two ran toward the noise while the others tightened their grips on their guns. "Now," Kael mouthed. They struck with brutal speed. The guards never had a chance to call for help. Inside, the tunnels split in all directions—a labyrinth of darkness. Liana closed her eyes, focusing on Jace's presence. "This way," she whispered, turning left at a fork. The tunnel sloped downward, the air getting cold and damp. Dripping water bounced off stone walls. The smell of blood—Jace's blood—grew stronger. Through their bond, Liana felt Jace's thoughts becoming confused. Images flashed randomly—childhood memories, faces of pack members, Celeste saying something as she cut him again. "They're breaking his mind," Rowan hissed, clutching his chest. "He's losing himself." "Faster," Kael ordered. The tunnel opened into a bigger chamber. Torches cast shifting shadows across stone walls. In the middle, chained to a pillar, hung Jace. Liana bit back a cry. His body was covered in cuts—some minor, others deep. His left ear was damaged. Blood soaked his torn clothes. But worst of all were his eyes—vacant, looking at nothing. "Cover me," Kael whispered, moving forward. The chamber seemed empty except for Jace, but Liana's senses screamed danger. She scanned the shadows, looking for movement. "Jace," Kael called softly, approaching his brother. "We're here. We're taking you home." No answer. Not even a flash of recognition.
Rowan worked on the chains while Kael supported Jace's weight. "Brother, can you hear me?" Slowly, Jace's head turned. His eyes focused on Kael's face. "Brother?" he repeated, voice hoarse from yelling. "Yes," Kael smiled with relief. "It's me." Jace's lips curled upward. Not a smile—a snarl. "No brother of mine." Without notice, Jace's hand shot out, grabbing Kael's throat with impossible strength. The chains that had held him snapped like paper. "Jace, stop!" Liana screamed, running forward. His eyes found hers—but they weren't his eyes anymore. Black energy swirled where green should be. The same darkness that drove Celeste's shadow warriors. "The omega," he growled, voice twisted. "Master wants you." "Master?" Rowan whispered, shocked. "Jace, what did they do to you?" Kael broke free, falling backward. "That's not Jace anymore." Jace—or the thing wearing his skin—moved with unnatural speed. He slammed Kael against the wall with enough force to crack stone. Their soldiers rushed forward but were thrown back by an invisible force. "The gift flows through me," Jace laughed, the sound all wrong. "Why fight it, brother? Join us in the darkness." Liana's golden power flared automatically. The light touched Jace's skin, and for a second—just a second—his eyes cleared. "Li...ana?" he gasped, his real voice breaking through.
Then the darkness returned, stronger than before. Jace howled in rage, lunging at her with claws extended. Kael tackled him midair. They crashed into the ground, rolling and growling. Brother against brother. "We need to get him out of here!" Rowan grabbed Liana's arm. "Your light—it reached him!" A slow clap echoed through the room. From the shadows, Celeste emerged, her beauty twisted by the darkness surrounding her like a live cloak. "Well done finding us," she smiled. "I knew you would. In fact, I counted on it."
Behind her, more shadow fighters appeared—dozens of them, blocking the exit. "You see," Celeste continued, stroking Jace's hair as he knelt before her, suddenly gentle, "I didn't just need one brother. I need all three." She looked directly at Liana. "And their little omega, of course." "What have you done to him?" Liana ordered, golden light pulsing beneath her skin. "Improved him," Celeste shrugged. "The dark blood is so much stronger than ours. It cleanses, clarifies. Jace understands now. Soon, you all will." Jace rose, his moves puppet-like. The black energy in his eyes spun faster. "Kill your brothers," Celeste ordered softly. "Bring me the girl." With a roar that shook the room, Jace attacked.